HOFFMAN

Hey Joe yep saw your avatar on one of the threads.

Maybe, I missed it but I would be using fluoro, bare min. a fluoro leader. I agree w/riverrat on the jig and twister, sometimes less is more. BnL has some great advice in top water, fluke, then drop shot. I would throw them in that order. Maybe, a walking bait like a spook as well. Low light condintions always seem to help me in clear water conditions. a football or shakey head with a craw trailer dragged on the bottom may work as well. when you get to a rock/snag resist the urge to pop it, shake your rod tip to flare the claws. JMO but natural colors have produced better for me in clear water. Shad patterns, olives and pumpkin etc. Like everyone said back off the target area but toss a marker bouy to help keep track of it.

Hello All, This is Nathan from northern IL. I will fish for anything that swims but target bass 80% of the time. I mostly wade or yak the Fox river as my "home waters" but also drop the yak in misc. small ponds. Each year I take a few week trips to FLA, U.P. of MI, Door Co. WI, and next year adding TN to chase stripers. For several years I would fish 4 days a week but was blessed with my first child, Aydan, last Nov. so he happily cuts into fishing and hunting time. Anyway, I'll try and chip in what I can, certainly not a master but not my first redeo either. Tried to post some photos but need 10 posts. :'( tight lines, Hoffman

Hello all! 1st post, figured I would represent IL and what we're throwing. A lot of great baits listed, most of which I throw as well. Jig and twisters: Cheap ball heads with Producto or Kalins in 3". 5" in the fall will get the big bite Swim jigs: Warrior or Brovarney, same trailers as above or crawbug Cranks: Daiwa peanut can not be beat, ghost olive (must change the crap stock hooks though) Bandits, normans, anything square billed Shad or glass raps if you want to dig in a bit more. Stick baits: floating Raps in size 3-7, yozuri pins minnow is great bait, gold flame. Double willow spinners: War Eagle or Picasso Inline spinners: Panther Martins seem to vibrate more than rooster etc. baby bass or brown trout can't forget Topwater: Heddon spook and jr., chugbug, pop R, hot colors: olives, pumpkin, baby bass, smoke, black, orange and black / craw patterns